Dyeing or bleaching machine



Sept. 26, 1939. R. E. oBl-:RHoLTzER DYEING OR BLEACHING MACHINE FiledApril 7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l aL/4%? @au J 5 Sept. 26, 1939.

R. E. OBERHOLTZER DYEING OR BLEACHILNG MACHINE Filed April 7, 1937 5Sheets-Sheet 2 No W Q W"`H SePt- 26, v1939. R. E. oBERHoLTzER DYEING ORBLEACHING MACHINE Filed April '7, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet` 4 fff @3g/7142.5@

Sept. 26, 1939. R. E. oBERHoLTzI-:R

A DYEING OR BLEACHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 7, 1937Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES eArsNr ortica Application April 7,1937, Serial No. 135,583

10 Claims.

This invention relates to dyeing machines, and particularly to machinesof the Hussong type, i. e. a type which comprises a vat arranged andadapted to receive skeins of yarn hung on poles,

or loose bulk material in cages, through which dye liquor is circulatedalternately in opposite directions by means of propellers located in oneend of the vat.

Heretofore difculty has been experienced in dyeing a mass or batch ofmaterial, or a series of batches, uniformly throughout the whole of eachbatch or the run made up of the series of successively dyed batches. Thetrouble is traceable p to faulty construction of the vat, by whichleakage of the dye liquor around marginal portions of the mass andthrough channels or voids formed in the mass is permitted; and partly topoor controi of the circulation of the liquor flow in the vat. Theseleakages and inferior control of the flow produce higher velocities inthe flow of the liquor in and around the marginal portions of the massthan in the more compacted central portions or areas of the mass andaffect the penetration of the mass by the dyestuff. The .diiferences inthe flow velocities and variable penetration potentialities inrelatively diferent portions respectively of the mass produce relativelydiierent color shades in such portions.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved vatconstruction and flow control which will overcome the above noted faultsof devices now in use.

The improved construction and control will be fully disclosedhereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a dyeing machine made in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2, Fig.l;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of one of the flow distributing elements of themachine;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional perspective views illustrating certaindetails of the construction;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the detail of the invention taken onthe line 6 6, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 1 -1, Fig. 2.

The machine illustrated in the drawings of the present case is of thelarger size generally known in the trade as a thousand pound machine. Tothose skilled in the art such a designation immediately indicates a vathaving a yarn-reoeiving chamber substantially 10 foot square in plan and3 feet deep.

(Cl. (iS-188) It will be understood, of course, that the above notedmeasurements are approximate and are given merely as an indication ofthe size of the yarn-receiving chamber for reasons which will appearmore fully hereinafter.

It will also be understood that the above designation is not to beconstrued as placing any limitations on the scope of the invention asthe features of the invention are applicable, with equal facility, tomachines of lower and higher capacities and correspondingly smaller andlarger vats, etc.

In machines of the above noted larger size and type, it is the usualpractice to hang the skeins of yarn on sticks or poles which are of alength approximating half the width of the yarn or dyeing chamber. Thesesticks or poles are hung in a rack which comprises two outer longitudinal stringers and an intermediate longitudinal Stringer spacedequidistant from the outer stringers and extending parallel thereto. Theouter and intermediate stringers are normally provided with sockets forreceiving the extreme ends of the yarn poles which extend transverselyof the dyeing chamber and are arranged in laterally spaced relation toeach other in each of two parallel rows. The rack, when loaded, islowered into the vat with the suspended skeins of yarn hangingvertically in the yarn-receiving or dyeing chamber proper. Thisconstruction leaves a channel or void running longitudinally through themass of material to be dyed, below the intermediate Stringer, and inwhich the velocity of the dye liquor is greater than through the skeinsof yarn hanging in the dye liquor at the opposite sides respectively ofthe central stringer.

The rack usually rits into the vat rather loosely, with a fairly largeamount of space between the outer stringers and the side walls of thevat; and between the poles at the extreme ends of the rack and the endwalls of the dyeing chamber. Such construction permits large quantitiesof the dye liquor to escape from the dyeing chamber without coming intocontact with the material to be dyed. The escaping liquor, therefore,has a higher velocity than the liquor passing through the bulk ofmaterial in the dyeing chamber.

The construction forming the subject matter of the present invention isadapted to correct the above noted conditions. First, by eliminating theintermediate pole-supporting Stringer and providing long continuouspoles of special construction extending uninterruptedly from side toside of the dyeing chamber on which skeins of yarn are hung compactlyfrom sideto side of the chamber, thereby eliminating the central channelor void through the mass.

The construction further includes improved features by which the escapeof uid around the margins of the mass is eliminated and by which theflow of liquor is directed and controlled in a manner to distribute theflow uniformly through the heart or centralized areas of the mass andthe marginal portions of the mass. First, by providing a seal betweenthe rack and the walls of the dyeing chamber; and secondly, by providinga perforated cover plate for the dyeing chamber, with the perforaticnsarranged so as to equalize or distribute the flow evenly over the entirearea of the dyeing chamber.

Another feature of the invention resides in providing a similarperforated plate in the bottom cf the dyeing chamber and providing aseal between the bottom plate and the walls of the dyeing chamber.

Another feature resides in making the sum of the areas of theperforations in the top and bottom plates of the dyeing chambersubstantially equal to each other and equal to the sum of the areas of aplurality of propeller wells through which the dye liquor must pass incirculation in the vat.

The holes in the bottom and top plates of the dyeing chamber aresimilarly arranged in order that, regardless of the direction in whichthe liquor is caused to flow through the dyeing chamber, the volume ofliquor leaving the dyeing chamber through the perforations of one plateis equal to the volume of liquor entering the dyeing chamber through theperforations of the other plate, it being noted that, in the Hussongtype of dyeing machine, the dye liquor is circulated first in onedirection, by a series of propellers rotating in said wells, and then inthe opposite direction by reversing the direction of rotation of saidpropellers.

By controlling the flow set up by the propellers and by preventing theescape of the circulating liquor in the manner above noted equal uniformdyeing of the entire batch in each instance, and

-in any number of recurring instances, is obtained.

In the drawings, the vat is generally indicated at A, and comprises abottom I, vertical end walls 2 and 3, and vertical side walls 4 and 5.

In the present instance, the bottom I is arranged on an incline, being agreater distance from the door .r at the end 2 of the vat, as indicatedat m1, than at the end 3, as indicated at x2, for the purpose ofinsuring complete drainage of the vat through drain pipes 6 and forother reasons which will be hereinafter disclosed.

The entire interior and top edges of the vat A are lined or covered witha non-corrosive dyeresisting material, in the present instance stainlesssteel. This lining is indicated at I0. All joints between the sheetswhich compose the lining of the tub A are welded together and the seamsare smoothened to prevent harboring of any dyestuffs when the tank isdrained through the pipes 6, whereby the color of one dyeing operationwill not be carried over into a different 'color used in the next dyeingoperation and detrimentally affecting the subsequent dyeing,

At the bottom of the tub A and extending along the end 2 and sides 4 and5 of the tub is a filler block 'I, around which the lining I0 passes andwhich provides a shelf II in a single horizontal plane around said threewalls 2, 4 and 5 of the vat, for purposes hereinafter noted.

Likewise the end 2 and the side walls 4 and are reduced in thickness atand to a substantial distance below the top edge of the Vat to provide ashelf I2 in a single horizontal plane around the three walls 2, 4 and 5of the Vat, in vertically spaced relation to the shelf II and to the topedge I3 of the vat for purposes hereinafter described.

Spaced inwardly from and extending in a vertical plane substantiallyparallel to the end wall 3 of the vat is a removable partition I5 whichextends from the side wall 4 to the side wall 5 of the vat. Thepartition I5 in the present case is also made of stainless steel anddivides the vat into a dyeing chamber A1 and a propeller chamber A2.

Extending in a horizontal plane completely across the propeller chamberA2, from the end wall 3 of the vat to the partition I5 and from the sidewall 4 of the vat to the side wall 5 thereof, is a removable propellerbo-ard in the form of a stainless steel plate I6 which is provided atspaced intervals with propeller openings I'I, I 'I. Each of thepropeller openings I1 is provided with a cylindrical flange I8 forming awell in which is mounted a propeller I9. Each propeller is carried by avertical shaft 2U.

The upper end of each shaft Ztl is rotatably mounted in the usualframework 2I common to machines of this type. The framework 2| rests onand is secured to a top plank 22 disposed above the propeller chamberA2. The top plank 22 rests on the upper edges of and is secured to theend wall 3 and the side walls 4 and 5 of the vat A. The framework 2lcarries the usual driving and reversing mechanisms for the shafts 20which form no part of the present invention.

The lower edge of the partition I5 is provided with a right angle flange23 which is disposed in a horizontal plane, with the upper surface ofsaid flange flush with the upper surface of the shelf II and formingtherewith a continuous bearing and sealing surface completely around allthe four sides of the dyeing chamber A1 and on which a perforated falsebottom 25 is seated in a manner to prevent leakage of the dye liquorinto or out of the bottom of the dyeing chamber A1 around the marginaledges of the false bottom 25; and whereby any and all liquid passing toand from the dyeing chamber A1, through the bottom thereof, must passthrough the perforations 25 formed in and distributed over substantiallythe entire area of the false bottom 25 in a manner hereinafterdescribed.

The false bottom 25 is provided with a depending flange 2l extendingaround all four sides thereof, at a predetermined distance inwardly fromthe extreme marginal edges thereof, and arranged to rest against themetal lining of the vat where it bends at right angles from the shelf IIover the upper, inner edge of the filler block 'I. The portion of theflange 21 which is adjacent the partition I5 bears against the free edgeof the flange 23 of the partition I5. The flange 2'! assists in forminga seal around the false bottom 25.

The upper edge of the partition I5b is provided with a reinforcing oredge bar 38. The edge bar 35 is welded throughout its entire length tothe upper edge of the partition I5 to form an integral part thereof, andto prevent leakage between the bar 30 and the abutting edge of thepartition I5. The upper surface of the bar 30 is flush with the uppersurface of the upper shelf I2 and forms therewith a continuous bearingand sealing surface, disposed in a single horizontal plane around thefour sides of the dyeing chamber A1, for the reception of a perforatedcover plate 35 for the dyeing chamber A1. The marginal edges of thecover plate 35 overlap and form a seal with the shelf I2 to preventescape of the dye liquor into or out of the dyeing chamber A1 around thecover 35 and requires that any liquid iiowingl to or from the dyeingchamber A1 through the top thereof must pass through perforations 36formed in the cover plate 35 and distributed over substantially theentire area thereof in the same manner as the perforations 26 of thefalse bottom 25.

The total areas of the perforations 36 in the cover plate 35 aresubstantially equal to the sum of the areas of the perforations 26 inthe false bottom 25, as above noted.

From the above, it will be clear that the dyeing chamber A1 is sealedand isolated from the other parts of the interior of the vat A in such amanner that the flow of liquor to and from the interior of the dyeingchamber A1 must pass through the perforations 26 and 35 in the falsebottom 25 and cover plate 35 respectively.

The partition I5 is removably mounted in grooves 3| formed in the sidewalls 4 and 5 of the vat. These grooves are actually formed in bars 32which are welded throughout their entire lengths respectively to thelining I8, to prevent escape of liquor through the butt joints betweenthe bars 32 and the lining III.

The propeller board I6 is likewise removably mounted in grooves 3|formed in bars 32 welded throughout their entire lengths to the liningI8 of the end andv side walls 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The propellerboard I6 is provided with a depending flange 33 at that edge thereofwhich abuts the partition I5 and the partition I5 is provided with aflange 34 which rests on the upper surface of the propeller board I6and, if desired, may be secured to said propeller board by bolts 29.This construction prevents leakage around the propeller board I6 so thatall liquor flowing or passing from the lower part of the propellerchamber A2 to the upper part of said propeller chamber or vice versamust pass through the propeller wells I8 which are formed in thepropeller board.

The total areas of the plurality of propeller openings I1, I1 in thepropeller board I6 are substantially equal to the total areas of theperforations 26 or 36 in the false bottom 25 and cover plate 35 of thedyeing chamber A1.

In this manner the flow of liquor in either direction in the machine,due to the prevention of leakage from one part to another part of theinterior of the vat A and by rotating the propellers I9 at apredetermined number of revolutions per minute, may be accuratelycontrolled and the speed of the propellers recorded. In this way,subsequent batches of material may be uniformly dyed by usingcorresponding dye mixes for the successive batches and by rotating thepropellers in one direction for a given length of time and in theopposite direction for a given length of time corresponding to therecorded operations of the propellers during dyeing of an initial batch.

In each instance the accuracy of the control of the flow insures that,under the circumstances with all things and conditions equal, each ofany number of successive batches intended to be dyed the same color willbe uniformly dyed throughout each batch and throughout all of thebatches combined.

The cover plate 35 is removable from the dyeing chamber A1 together withand as a part of the yarn-supporting rack B. The rack comprises a pairof parallel transversely extending beams 31, 31 which, as shown in Fig.1, are of suflicient length to extend over and beyond the side walls 4and 5 of the vat A.

Secured to the under side of the beams 31, 31 are longitudinallyextending members 38, 38 which constitute the main stringers of therack. Each Stringer 38 is formed of a bent sheet of stainless steel, inthe present instance, and comprises a horizontally extending portion 39which lies in the same plane as the cover plate 35 and is welded to thelongitudinal edges of said cover plate throughout the full lengththereof, along the juncture lines 40 therebetween, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 5. The horizontal portions 39 of the stringers 38form continuations of the cover plate 35 and constitute the parts of theplate 35 which rest on the shelf I2 along the side walls i and 5 of thevat, to form the seal above noted.

The upper edge of the rack member 38 in each instance is provided with ahorizontally extending flange 4I which is adapted to be secured to theunder side of the lifting beams 31, 31. The corresponding ends of theanges 4I, 4I, at that end of the rack B which is disposed adjacent thepartition I5 and cover plank 22, are integrally connected by an anglemember 42 which is welded at its opposite ends to the ends of theflanges 4I, 4i and to longitudinal rack members 38, 38 respectivelybelow said fianges.

The above noted ends of the members 38, 38 are also integrally connectedby a second angle bar 43 which is parallel to and spaced from and belowthe angle bar 42. One ange 44 of the bar 43 lies in the plane of thecover plate 35 and forms a continuation thereof which rests on the topbar 38 of the partition I5, said flange forming a continuation of thecover plate 35. The second flange 45 of the angle bar 43 extendsvertically from the plane of the cover plate 35 and is welded to saidcover plate throughout the entire Width of the cover plate along thejuncture line 46 shown in Fig. 5.

The opposite ends of the two longitudinal members 38, 38 of the rack Bare integrally connected by a top angle bar 41 which is welded at itsopposite ends to said side members 38, 38 respectively. Said members 38,38 are also connected at said end by a second angle bar 48, one fiange49 of which is disposed in the plane of the cover plate 35 and rests onthe shelf I2 on the end 2 of the vat A, the edge of the cover plate 35being welded throughout its entire width to the angle bar 43 along thejuncture line 58, as shown in Fig. 4.

The rack B also includes a longitudinally extending channel beam 5Iwhich is disposed equidistant from the members 38, 38 and parallelthereto and secured to the beams 31, 31 by bolts 52, 52.

Disposed in a horizontal plane above the members 38, 38, 5I and belowthe under sides of the beams 31, 31 is an imperforate cover plate 55which closes the top of the vat A when the rack B is in positiontherein, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The marginal portions of the coverplate 55 rest on the upper edges I3 of the walls 2, 4 and 5 of the vat.The cover plate 55 is provided with hinged doors 56, 56, 51, 51 and 58,58 which may be opened at will for purposes hereinafter described.

The rack B also includes a pair of longitudinally extendingpole-supporting beams or stringers 60, 6U which, as shown in Figs. 4 and5, are arranged to lie immediately adjacent and parallel to the sidewalls 4 and 5 respectively. The stringers 68 are removably attached tothe rack B by means of latch bolts 6|.

Each latch bolt 6| includes a shank 62 which is slidably mounted inaxially aligned openings formed in bearings 63, 64 and 65, all of whichare welded to the horizontal portions 33 of they longitudinal rackmembers 38, 38, Intermediate the bearings 64 and 65 the frame members 39are provided with openings 66 through which extend eye members 61, eacheye member having an opening 68 normally aligned with the openings inthe bearings 63, 64 and 65 and arranged to receive the shank 62 of thelatch bolt. Each eye member 61 is provided with a plate or body portion69 which is disposed in the channel of the stringer member 60 and weldedto the upstanding legs or side flanges thereof. The shank 62 of each ofthe latch bolts 6| is provided with a handle 10 which when the oppositeend 15 of the bolt 6| is extending through the elements 64, 65 and 61 tolock the channel member 66 to the rack members 38, lies in front of avertically projecting lug 1| which is carried by the element 39 to keepthe bolt 6| from moving in a direction to release the channel member 56.A collar 12 secured to the shank 62 limits movement of the bolt 6| inthe opposite direction, and a similar collar 13 secured to the ehr-nk 62prevents the shank from being moved a suilicient distance to release thelocking end 15 of the shank from the member 64 when the handle 18 isturned from the horizontal positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5 to avertical position to withdraw the locking ends 15 to the bolts 6| fromthe eye members 61 to release the channel members 60.

The inner leg or side wall 16 of each of the channel members 68 isprovided with a series of recesses 11 which extend from the top edge 18thereof to the base or cross member 19 of the channel member 60, for thereception of yarnsupporting elements 80.

The yarn-supporting elements 88, as shown in the drawings, are of hollowrectangular cross section and extend continuously from the one channelmember 60 at the one side 4 of the vat A to the channel member 66 at theopposite side 5 of the vat A. The yarnesupporting members 86 areprevented from moving to any substantial extent longitudinally by theopposite ends of said yarnesupporting members 8D engaging the outervertical legs 8| of the channel members 66. Relative lateral movement ofthe yarn-supporting members 86 is prevented by the side edges of therecesses 11 of the members 66; and vertical movement of theyarn-supporting members Si), rela tive to the members 68, is normallyprevented by a depending 82 which extends downwardly from the horizontalmember 39 of the elements 38 of the rack B and engages the tops of theyarn-supporting members 80.

After a dyeing operation has been completed on a batch of yarn, the rackB is raised out of the vat A by means of hooks on crane cables or chainsfastened to the eyes 83, 83 carried by the beams 31, 31. The rack B,including the cover plates 35 and 55, the channel members 60 and theyarnsupporting members 80 are all raised clear of the vat A, as a unit,and transported to a loading and unloading station where the channelmembers 6|) are brought to rest on suitable supports provided therefor.The doors 56, 51 and' 58 of the imperforate cover may now be opened togain access to the locking bolts 6| by which the members 60, 68 arenormally secured to the rack B. The bolts 6| are turned and movedlongitudinally until the ends 15 thereof move out of the apertures 68 ofthe eye members 61 carried by the channel members 66. The rack B is thenraised leaving the members 60, in the supports provided therefor withth'e yarn-supporting elements 80 resting in said channel members 60.

In raising the rack B, the eyes 61 of the channel member 66 slip out ofthe openings 66 in the rack members 38 and the flanges 82 of the rackmembers 38 are raised from the upper surfaces of the yarn-supportingmembers 80, after which the members 8U may be individually removed fromthe recesses 11 in the channel members 60 for removing the dyed yarnytherefrom.

In loading the vat, the operation is reversed, with the channel members60 supported in predetermined laterally spaced relation to each other bythe supports above noted, the yarn-supporting members 80 areindividually loaded and placed in the recesses 11 of the channel members60, B is lowered over the members 60 until the eyes 61 thereof passthrough the openings 66 in the rack members 38, at which time the loweredges of the flanges 82 of the rack members 38 come to rest on the topsof the yarnsupporting elements 86. The eyes 61 of the channel members 66are then aligned with the bolts 6| which are operated to secure themembers 66 to the rack B. The rack is then ready for placement in thevat A.

The perforations in the false bottom 25 and in the cover plate 35 of thedyeing chamber A1 are arranged in the manner illustrated. in Fig. 3,said perforations being relatively close together within a central areaC. In a surrounding area D the perforations 26 are spaced apart arelatively greater distance than in the central area C, and in anextreme marginal area Ev surrounding the area D the plates 25 and 35 aredevoid of perforations. It is preferred that there be substantiallytwice as many perforations per square foot in the area C as in the areaD of As an example in a machine of the size disclosed, there would beapproximately 4,722 openings of 1/4 inch diameter in the area D and9,444 similar size openings in the area C. In this manner the relativelyhigh velocity iiow which normally exists between the outer edges of theload or bulk of material being dyed and the walls of the vat and in thelesser compacted marginal regions of the load are shut oif completelyimmediately adjacent the walls of the vat by the imperforate areas E anddirected inwardly to the areas D wherein the perforations are relativelyfar apart. This arrangement, while permitting flow through the marginalportions of the load, directs the excess flow into the cen.- tral moreclosely compacted region or area of the load, to pass through the closerspaced perforations 26 within the central area C. This relationship inpractice has proven quite satisfactory in producing substantiallyuniform ow of the liquid through the entire batch being dyed in the vatA.

The dye liquor passing to and from the interior of the dyeing chamber A1passes through the perforated plates 35 and 25 into horizontal channelsF and G which communicate with the upper and lower portions respectivelyin the propeller channel A2 and afford circulating passages for theliquor between the dyeing chamber A1 and the propeller chamber A2.

The false bottom 25 is secured in place by studs T85 vand nuts 86thereon, as shown in Fig. 7. The studs 85 are secured to bridge piecesvB1 which span the otherwise open ends of recesses 88 formed in pipesupports 89. The pipe supports support steam pipes 9] by which the dyeliquor in the vat A may be maintained at the proper temperature. Thesupports 89 are welded or otherwise secured to the lining In of the vat.

The channel G formed between the inclined bottom i of the vat A and thefalse bottom .25 is shallower at the end 2 of the vat than at the end 3thereof and aids in the distribution of the dye liquor along the lengthof the vat, due to its gradually decreasing depth from the propeller endof the vat toward the distant end thereof.

The corners at the intersections between the bottom I and end walls 2and 3 are iilleted, as indicated at 9i to prevent formation of eddycurrents and thereby facilitate even flow of the dye liquor incirculation.

If desired any suitable form of clamp may be provided on the side wallsi and 5 to extend over and engage the protruding ends of the beams 3l,to force and hold the rack B down firmly with the cover plate 35 of thedyeing chamber Al seated iirmly on the sealing shelf i2 of the vat A.

While the foregoing disclosure is directed particularly to dye liquor,it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the apparatus willfunction equally and can be used with other liquids such as bleachingfluids, rinse water, etc., without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

It is preferred to make all of the metal parts of the machine which comein contact with the dye liquor, including the stringers 60 and yarnpoles ll, and all other parts not specifically noted hereinbefore ofstainless steel and to weld all joints smoothly to eliminateaccumulations of dyestuif for reasons noted above.

The hollow rectangular cross sectional construction of the yarn poles8i! provides sufficient rigidity to prevent the poles, in the maximumsized machines noted, from sagging unduly intermediate the stringers 6Bwhen loaded with Wet yarn. The ends of these hollow members arepreferably sealed to exclude all liquor from the interiors of the hollowpoles.

I claim:

l. A textile processing machine comprising a processing chamber, meansfor Ycirculating fluid through said processing chamber, said chambercomprising a pair of perforated walls. through which said fluid entersand leaves said chamber, and means for sealing said chamber to forcesaid fluid to pass through the perforations of said walls exclusively,the sum of the areas of the perforations in each of said walls beingsubstantially .equal to the sum of the areas of the perforations in theotherof said walls, and the perforations in both walls being similarlydistributed over the respective areas of said walls and arranged inclosely adjacent relation to each other in a central area of each walland in relatively wider spaced relation in an area surrounding saidcentral area.

2. A textile processing machine comprising a processing chamber, meansfor circulating uid through said processing chamber, said chambercomprising a pair of perforated walls through which said fluid entersand leaves said chamber, and means for sealing said chamber to forcesaid fluid to pass through the perforations of said walls exclusively,the sum of the areas of the perforations in each of said walls beingsubstan tially equal to the sum of the areas of the perforations in theother of said walls, and the per- 5 forations in both walls beingsimilarly distributed over the respective areas of said walls andarranged in closely adjacent relation to each other in a central area ofeach wall and in relatively wider spaced relation in an area surroundingsaid central area with substantially twice as many perforations per unitarea of perforated surface in said central area as in said surroundingarea.

3. A textile processing machine comprising a processing chamber, meansfor circulating fluid through said processing chamber, said chambercomprising a pair of perforated walls through which said fluid entersand leaves said chamber, means for sealing said chamber to force saidfluid to pass through the perforations of said walls exclusively, thesum of the areas of the perforations in each of said walls beingsubstantially equal to the sum ofthe areas of the perforations in theother of said walls, and the perforations in both walls being similarlydistributed over the respective areas of said walls and arranged inclosely adjacent relation to each other in a central area of each walland in relatively wider spaced relation in an area surrounding saidcentral area with substantially twice as many perfcrations per unit areaof perforated surface in said central area as in said surrounding area,and an imperforate area surrounding the area having the lesser number ofperforations therein.

4. A textile processing machine comprising a processing chamberincluding a pair of perforated walls, a fluid passageway outside andextending around said chamber from one of said walls to the other ofsaid walls, a barrier in said passageway, means operable in openings insaid barrier for circulating fluid through said barrier, said passagewayand said chamber through the openings in said perforated walls of saidcharnber, means for sealing said chamber and forcing said liquid to passexclusively through the openings in the perforated walls thereof, andmeans for sealing said passageway around said barrier to force the uidto pass exclusively through said openings in said barrier, the portionof said passageway extending along and lying adjacent to at least one ofsaid perforated chamber walls gradually decreasing .in cross-sectionalarea from that portion of the passageway in which said barrier islocated toward a distantly disposed portion of the perforated wall alongwhich said diminishing passageway extends.

5. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open topprocessing chamber, a rack structure arranged to be superposed abovesaid chamber, said rack structure including a pair of substantiallyparallel stringers extending along and adjacent oppositely disposed sidewalls of said chamber substantially from end to end of said chamber, aplurality of yarn-supporting poles extending transversely of saidchamber uninterruptedly from the one to the other of said stringers andseated at their opposite ends respectively in recesses formed in eachStringer, and means for -detachably securing said stringers to said rackstructure, said stringers being of a substantially U-shaped crosssection including substantially parallel upstanding legs connected by atransverse bottom web with the pole-receiving recesses formed in theinnermost of said upstanding legs and the ends of the polessubstantially abutting against the inner surfaces of the outermost ofsaid legs. Y

6. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open topprocessing chamber, a rack structure arranged to be superposed abovesaid chamber, said rack structure including a pair of substantiallyparallel stringers extending along and adjacent oppositely disposed sidewalls of said chamber substantially from end to end of said chamber, aplurality of yarn-supporting poles extending transversely of saidchamber uninterruptedly from the one to the other of said stringers andseated at their opposite ends respectively in recesses formed in eachStringer, means for detachably securing said stringers to said rackstructure, said stringers being of a substantially U-shaped crosssection including substantially parallel upstanding legs connected by atransverse bottom web with the pole-receiving recesses formed in theinnermost of said upstanding legs and the ends of the polessubstantially abutting against the inner surfaces of the outermost ofsaid legs, said pole recesses extending upwardly to the upper edges ofsaid innermost legs, and a depending flange on said rack structureadjacent and extending parallel to each of said stringers and dependingbelow said top edges of said innermost legs to limit upward movement ofsaid poles in said recesses.

7. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open topprocessing chamber, a rack arranged to be superposed above the open topof said chamber, a perforated cover plate for said chamber carried bysaid rack, a continuous shelf around said chamber below the upper edgesof the walls of said chamber and on which the marginal edges of saidcover plate rest and seal said chamber against passage of fluid exceptthrough the perforations of said cover plate, an imperforate cover platecarried by said rack in substantially parallel vertically spacedrelation to said perforated cover plate and resting on said upper edgesof said chamber walls, a pair of polesupporting stringere below saidperforated cover plate, means carried by said stringers and extendingupwardly through said perforated cover plate, means above saidperforated cover plate for engaging the last said means for detachablyconnecting said stringers to said rack, and doors in said imperforatecover plate affording access to said detaching means.

8. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open topprocessing chamber, a rack arranged to be superposed above the open topof said chamber, a perforated cover plate for said chamber carried bysaid rack, a continuous shelf around said chamber on which the marginaledges of said cover plate rest and seal said chamber against passage offluid except through the perforations of said cover plate, theperforations in said cover plate being arranged relatively closetogether over the central portion of said chamber and relatively furtherapart in an area surrounding said central area with an imperforatemarginal area surrounding the last said perforated area and lyingadjacent the walls of said chamber and a correspondingly arrangedperforated bottom in said chamber in the form of a removable plate, ashelf extending around the walls of said chamber and on which themarginal edges of said plate rest and seal the bottom of said chamberagainst passage of fluid except through the perforations in said plate,and means for maintaining said plate in sealing contact with said shelf.

9. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open top Vat, apartition extending across said vat with its upper edge below the upperedges of the walls of said vat and its lower edge above the bottom ofsaid vat and dividing the vat into a processing chamber and aiiuidcirculating chamber, a horizontal uppper shelf formed on the wallsof the processing chamber portion of the vat in a horizontal planecoinciding with the plane of the upper edge of said partition, ahorizontal lower shelf formed on the walls of the processing chamberportion of the vat in a plane coinciding with the plane of the loweredge of said partition, a flange on said lower edge of said partitioncompleting said lower shelf, perforated bottom and top plates resting onsaid upper and lower shelves respectively and sealing the top and bottomof said chamber against passage of fluid except through the perforationsof said plates.

10. A textile processing machine comprising a normally open top vat, apartition extending across said vat with its upper edge below the upperedges of the walls of said vat and its lower edge above the bottom ofsaid vat and dividing the vat into a processing chamber and afluidcirculating chamber, a horizontal upper shelf formed on the wallsof the processing chamber portion of the vat in a horizontal planecoinciding with the plane of the upper edge of said partition, ahorizontal lower` shelf formed on the walls of the processing chamberportion of the vat in a plane coinciding with the plane of the loweredge of said partition, a flange on said lower edge of said partitioncompleting said lower shelf, perforated bottom and top plates resting onsaid upper and lower shelves respectively and sealing the top and bottomof said chamber against passage of fluid except through the perforationsof said plates, and a propeller board extending across saidfluid-circulating chamber and provided with a plurality of uid openings,means for sealing said circulating chamber against passage of fluidexcept through the openings in said propeller board, and rotarypropellers in said board openings respectively for circulating fluid inthe vat through the perforations in the top and bottom plates of saidprocessing chamber exclusively and through the openings in said boardexclusively,

' ROBERT E. OBERHOLTZER.

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